Comparing Various Electronic Medical Records

My Job here Is to make an analysis of three different software systems hat EMMER based and how they compare In varying ways. As way of an Introduction, I would Like to Identify Just what an EMMER Is. EMMER software Is a computer application that manages the clinical. Financial and administrative functions of a healthcare organization in order to reduce the office workload and increase efficiency along with other benefits, such as improved security, reduced malpractice insurance premiums and enhanced quality of care.

For a system to be considered a true “EMMER”, it must integrate information from multiple sources, capture data at the point of encounter and support caregivers decision making process. Many systems on the market use the “EMMER” acronym as a buzzword and do not have the capability to perform these functions. A suitable EMMER software is typically an application that is installed on central server and connected to terminals such as PC’s and Pad’s via a network. The caregivers and administrative staff can than access these terminals to Input clinical, financial and administrative data.

EMMER software usually Integrates with the organization’s existing billing software, and allows the caregiver to see the patient check-Len/check-out routine, submit CAP/ACID Information to the billing software, assist he caregiver in decision-making by suggesting treatment plans and generate reports. All EMMER software can be tailored to fit a medical practices needs and workflow settings with specialty specific EMMER software. For the purpose of this paper, I have found three systems which are quite different and therefore, excellent to compare.

I chose two systems that are free, or nearly free, as an alternative to purchased software. The three systems include: 1 . Allegorists Healthiness EMMER, 2. Opener, an Open Source Software Program, and 3. Practice Fusion’s Free EMMER. Allegorists EMMER system is the most commonly used system In the unites States, with ever 180,000 physicians using it. It Is versatile for small and mid-size practices In Improving clinical and administrative processes. The application Is customizable for family practice or multi practice facilities. The system was given five stars out of a possible 5 star rating by APPC associated testers.

It is multimode, which means it for each specialty, and each physician in the practice can create specific assessment, plan and physical exam templates. Allegorists software is web based and can be accessed remotely. Specialists set and install the system which works with all major vendors, such as Dell. The setup can even be wireless. On site training is available for the staff. The software is easy to understand and is user friendly. There is quality customer support. The cost is variable, depending on the size and other components. It is into the thousands, however.

Beginning this year, the government has begun an incentive program to turn all medical records into electronic ones, and giving providers a high pay back incentive for pursuing and implementing these programs. This covers most if not all of the system. Disadvantages of the system are that additional add-ones may boost the cost of the system. The next Electronic Medical Record system I would like to compare is Opener, a free medical practice management, EMMER, prescription writing, and medical billing application. It is licensed under General Gnu Public license (General GPO).

It is a free, open source replacement for other Medical Applications such as Allegorists, Medical Manager, MAC)-Online, Meditate, etc. Using ANSI X 12, which is a national data maintenance body. Major features of Opener are many. It has Free Libber Open Source Software. It has Multilingual support, free online support and free upgrades. It includes electronic ailing (including Medicare), document management, integrated practice management and E-prescribing. It also boasts insurance tracking of up to three insurance, it is easy to install and customize.

It is voice recognition ready with MS Windows Operating Systems. It is web based secure with SSL certificates. This program has integration with external general accounting program SQL-ledger. It has a built in scheduler. Multi-facility capable and can access prescriptions by printed script, fax or email. Medical claims and accounts receivable can be managed through SQL-ledger, which has been customized. The calendar features include categories for appointment types, colors associated with types, repeating appointments and ability to restrict appointments.

There is electronic or scanned digital document management for records. Open Source software community is comprised of software developers and physicians and those with extensive medical and billing knowledge all who share the common goal of making Open EMMER a viable alternative to purchased counterparts. Opener is one of the most popular free electronic medical records in use today. Surefooted has recorded over 3,400 downloads per onto. That is the fair market equivalent of $100,000,000 in donated software per month. The disadvantage of Opener is that here is no onsite support staff.

The last application for electronic medical records I will voice today is one that is in some conflict. Practice Fusion, a San Francisco based software company, is offering a free application with excellent customer support. The company offers the healthcare IT industry integrated on-demand solutions that streamline costly and inefficient processes between physicians, patients and healthcare groups associated with lams adjudication, eligibilities, authorizations and sharing medical records. While it maintains most, if not all of the other two application packages discussed here, it has some very important differences.

Practice Fusions mission is to take away the hardship of forcing practices to pay enormous licensing fees to instill software How they do this is by delivering as a Software-as-a-Service (AAAS) subscription model, as a web based service. Practice Fusion enables practices to pay for usage, not software, hardware and integration. The offside of this application is that although a ere service, Practice Fusion permits pharmaceutical companies to advertise within the EMMER and on the web-based patient portal. This can have some major repercussions.

Most states have banned a lot of past practices that allowed drug companies to have financial relationships with physicians. This seems to be tipping the bar, as far as I am concerned. In summary, I have found an enormous amount of information about Emirs and other electronic sources. It is vast and deep. I see that physicians and or health administrators would need to do a lot of research to decide what type of application would suit the needs of their practice. I do like that there are free applications available.

I also see how it would be good to have onsite support in a larger practice, as if your computer software goes down, your office could come to a stand still. In that all of this is in the most highly explosive revolution in industry history, we are likely to see a lot more changes, and quickly. I only hope we can keep up with the changes and keep our patients privacy and safety intact on our Journey.